BARRACK ST CHURCH

A view from Lower Barrack St ....the Church has been abandoned and overtaken by Ivy. The devotional plaques have been removed to the new St Mary's Church of Ireland in Church Road. Part of the Church roof is clearly visible and two Nenagh Shawlies stop for a natter oblivious to the photographer. No one appears to have questioned the placement of a Tuscan style Campanile as a church tower.

From the drawings of architect James Pain 22/10/1835, we get a clearer view of the original size and layout of the Church of Ireland in Barrack St and confirmation that the cottage to the side was the Sextons House. The drawings were done to try and squeeze some extra room and space by moving the vestry. Ultimately the diocese decided to move to a triangular site on Graces St and what would later be renamed Church Road

This Western Elevation shows a rudimentary roof on the Campanile but also shows a proposed plan to alter and improve the tower.

In this plan by James Pain we see the individual family pews and the double staircase leading to the gallery. We can also get an idea of the actual size of the building

Plan of the upstairs gallery and the individual family pews. Note also the placement of the cast iron pillars.

A colourised postcard of Lower Barrack St

In this photo we see part of the roof is still in existence. The tower itself was added to the Church in 1700. The entrance to upstair interior of the tower is through the cottage at the side according to one of the former residents. There is no other visible entrance.

View of the rear aspect of Barrack St Church. This is a truncated version of the original church

The double staircase leading to the gallery

Part of the lower entrance has been blocked up and the gallery entrance extended to create a window

Blocked up window. The stairs would have commenced here rising to the landing as delineated by the rafter holes filled in brick. This floor would have had two entrances through what are now windows leading to each side of the gallery

The deep entrance through the bell tower

Part of the interior stairwell wall

Some interior shots of the Barrack St Church ruins.

Bear in mind this present structure was reconstructed utilising part of the ruins of the old Church after it was abandoned in favour of the new Church of Ireland building in Church Road. Commemorative plaques that adorned the walls were removed to the new church.

All that remains is the Campanile and the stairwell